Utah athletics director Mark Harlan will now have a say in which teams make the College Football Playoff.
Harlan was appointed to the CFP selection committee this week. He will be the Pac-12′s representative, replacing new USC athletics director Jennifer Cohen.
“I’m honored to serve in this important role, and I’d like to thank the CFP Management Committee for this opportunity,” Harlan said in a prepared statement. “I recognize the importance of this committee for college football and for our industry.”
Cohen stepped away from the selection committee last weekend to focus on her new role at USC. She just moved from Washington, where she worked for over two decades. Cohen helped the Huskies move into the Big Ten, right as Utah moved to the Big 12.
With this appointment, Harlan will be one of the few western voices on the committee. Former Nevada athletic director Chris Ault is also a voting member. But the majority of the committee comes from the East coast or the heart of the country.
Every Power Five conference has representation. The Big 12 is represented by Kansas State’s Gene Taylor. He has served since 2021, replacing Texas athletics director Chris del Conte.
Members remain on the committee for three years. This means Harlan will be on the committee when the format changes from a four-team playoff to a 12-team playoff next season.
He will also be on the committee for when there is a restructuring of college football. The Pac-12 will no longer be a power conference next season. The powers will shift to the SEC and Big Ten, with the Big 12 and ACC following behind.
Full Committee List
Boo Corrigan - NC State AD and chair
Chris Ault - Former Nevada AD
Mitch Barnhart - Kentucky AD
Chet Gladchuk - Navy AD
Jim Grobe - Former head coach at Baylor, Wake Forest and Ohio
Mark Harlan - Utah AD
Warde Manuel - Michigan AD
David Sayler - Miami (OH) AD
Will Shields - Former lineman at Nebraska
Gene Taylor - Kansas State AD
Joe Taylor - Former head coach at Howard, Virginia Union, Hampton and Florida A&M
Kelly Whiteside - Former journalist and first female president of the Football Writers Association of America
